DC Velocity - May 2019

16 DC VELOCITY MAY 2019 www.dcvelocity.com newsworthy

The Kroger Co. and its automation partner Ocado will build Kroger’s second automated customer fulfillment center (CFC) in Groveland, Fla., the companies said.

The announcement follows the companies’ disclosure earlier this year of plans to open two CFCs on the East Coast, one in Central Florida and one in the mid-Atlantic region. Cincinnati-based Kroger’s first CFC will be located in Monroe, Ohio, a Cincinnati suburb, the partners said.

Kroger has said it will build 20 CFCs, which incorporate material handling equipment modules developed by Ocado, a British online grocery retailer and technology company. The automated warehouse facilities— known as “sheds”—feature digital and robotic capabilities. Ocado has similar operations in the U.K., which will be replicated to serve customers across America, the companies said.

Each shed will operate on the firm’s Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) suite, which runs warehouse operations for the single pick of products, together with applications ranging from user interfaces to warehouse operating and control systems, logistics, route planning, and optimization, according to the companies.

The partners expect to break ground on the 375,000-square-foot Groveland CFC later this year and have it up and running in 2021.

Kroger, Ocado to build next CFC near Orlando

Elemica, a digital supply network for the process industries, has completed the acquisition of EMNS, a material quality compliance company. … Material handling equipment maker Crown Equipment Corp. has opened a new sales and service location in Reno, Nev. … Pick-by-vision solution provider Picavi launched its U.S. subsidiary, Picavi U.S. Inc., in February. The company says it established the unit after a customer in the third-party logistics sector agreed to expand its use of smart glasses at the beginning of 2019. … Photector, previously known as PEIR, has announced a corporate rebranding. The company, which provides “proof-of-shipping condition” information for ports, terminals, depots, and distribution centers, says the rebranding initiative will include website, mobile app, and user experience enhancements. … Less-than-truckload service provider Southeastern Freight Lines’ Fredericksburg, Va., service center has celebrated 20 years of service. … Trucking and logistics company Alabama Motor Express has opened a new sales office in Atlanta. … Dematic, a supplier of integrated automated technology, software, and services, has announced plans to establish its global headquarters in Atlanta, securing approximately 40,000 square feet of space in Midtown’s Tech Square. … Supply chain software and services provider BluJay Solutions has partnered with NMB Solutions Canada Inc. to offer Parcel for Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations. The new offering is available on Microsoft AppSource and provides a seamless integration to multi-carrier parcel and LTL ( less-than-truckload) shipping applications for D365 users. short takes

PHO TO COU R TE SY OF K R OG ER / OCA DO

Freight broker and third-party logistics service provider (3PL) GlobalTranz

Enterprises Inc. has changed hands for the second time in a year. On April 3, Global Tranz announced that it had been purchased by Providence Equity Partners LLC from the Jordan Co. LP. The move comes just eight months after Rhode Island-based Providence and a consortium of other investors sold Phoenix, Ariz.-based GlobalTranz to Jordan. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“I am excited to have Providence as our new owner, with their impressive track record of expanding B2B tech-enabled services businesses across multiple subsectors and geographies,” GlobalTranz CEO Renee Krug said in a release.

Backed by the new ownership, GlobalTranz said it plans to continue investing in technology products, organic revenue growth, and strategic acquisitions. The firm has been on an acquisition tear in recent months, buying up nine firms in the logistics sector since January 2017, including its purchase of third-party multimodal transportation and logistics services provider Circle 8 Logistics on April 2, the day before its own buyout announcement.